Rotary web undersurface printing machine



Aug. 23, 1933 WEB R 1,873,912

ROTARY WEB UNDERSURFACE PRINTING MACHINE Filed Dec. 50. 1950 B EW ATTORNEY.

Patented Aug. 23, 1932 '.t J- -J-f.

TS MEN? OFFICE Y ALBERT s. WRRsTER, or OTTAWA, ONTARIO, cANAnA, ASSIGNOR To AMERICAN BANK NOTE COMPANY, or NEWYORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK ROTARY WR .oNnE sURFAcE PRINTING MACHINE lnpplicatio n'filed December 30, 930; I SeriaI NO. 505,620.

' 'Myinvention relates to rotary'web under surface printing'machines, and more particularly to a construction by which great accuracyin the relative-position of each'plate "'5 upon a plate cylinder and the makeready of the impression cylinder or D-roll is assured with the initiation of the making o'feachlmpression. A Inprintingmachines of the type to which 1 the invention relates, the, plate cylinder hasfa plurality of'plates, usuallythree in number,

mounted in spaced relation to each other thereon, and the impression cylinder for D- roll is of a diameter to have one full revolution for each plate "upon the' plate cylinder.

A continuous web is threaded from a supply r'eel mechanism between-the plate cylin- 'der'and the impression cylinder for D-roll to a collecting mechanism, the web being drawn with a'step by step movement from the supply reel asa result'of clamping action or frictional engagement-of thewehbetween' a plate upon the plate cylinderand-jthefmakeready blanket upon the impression cylinden' or D- roll, so that as a-plate passes from engaging relation with the impression cylinder or D- roll, feeding movement'of the Web instantly ceases,=and it remains stationary l until the succeeding plate approaches and engagesthe lmpression cylinder or D-roll,'or the web positioned'between same.

' In order to assure the making of uniformly good impressions, it is" customary to impart movement to the impression cylinder or' D- roll from the plate cylinder by what is known as a floating rack structure carried by the .plate cylinder and operative upon a continuousgear upon the impression cylinder or D-roll. This floating rack structure, briefly, consists of a shortrack, orstarting, segment fixedly connected with the plate cylindergear, and a floating racksection orone which is m Vably mOunted upon the plate cylinder gear and is acted upon by a springto normally maintain it in the proper relation tothe start,- ing section of the floating rack structure. There is one floatingrackstructure for each plate upon the plate cylinder, and each structure is of a length to ensure one'complete revolution of the impression cylinder or D-roll.

This floating," rack section permits minute variations in the angular speed of the impression cylinder or D-roll, due to irregularities in the height of 'difl'erent portions of the the plates upon the plate cylinder. and the impression cylinder or D-roll during any non-printing interval of the machine, or during that interval when the plate upon the plate cylinder is not. engaged with the impression cylinder orD-roll. I

In the machine of the invention, when printing upon a continuous web in a steel plate printing machine, the impression cylinder or D-rollis accurately positioned with relation to each plate upon the initiation of each printing interval, and whether the full friction drive of the impression cylinder or D-roll is'secured by looseness between the "gears upon the two cylinders, or by means of a floating rack structure, orby both, the impression cylinder or D-roll mechanism controlling the movement between impressions is so controlled by the plate cylinder as to accurately position said impression cylinder or D-roll with relation to the succeedingplate. It is merely necessary to ensure accuracy'in' the movements and position of the D-roll immediately following the completion of the making of each impression, and immediately prior to the making of a succeeding impression. By thus placing the impression cylinder or D-roll under the positive control of theplate cylinder, I secure the effect of a continued'perfect enmeshment of the impression cylinder or 'D-roll gear and the gear driving same "during that interval between the making of impressions, which is the only interval during which it is desirable to place the impression cylinder or D-roll under the cylinder gear. I I I I ---Ordinarily, a floating rack structure is empositive control ofthe plate ployed in a machine of the type to which my invention relates, and the placing of the impression cylinder or D-roll under the control of the plate cylinder in the manner above more, said mechanism ensures a positive control of the impression cylinder or D-roll, upon its initial engagement with the floating rack section operative in relation to each plate, as said plate reachesthe initial printing position. It ensures a more uniform actuation'of the impression cylinder or -D- roll; avoids excessive wear at vital points in the gears between said cylinder and the plate cylinder; avoids the necessity for great nie ety in the laying out and making of such gearing, and permits the continued uniform operation of "the machine notwithstanding wear of such gearing.

It is desirable to provide in the mechanism of the invention, a construction permittingadjustment of the members operative upon the impression cylinder or. D-roll in order to permit nicety in the setting of this mechanism with relation to the gearing.

The mechanism of the invention results in extreme accuracy in the positioning of succeeding impressions upon the web and contributes toward high eiiiciency in the opera tion of the printing machine embodying same, both as to the quantity and quality of the. work produced.

The invention consists primarily in a rotary web undersurface printing machine embodying therein a printing couple consisting of an impression cylinder or D-roll, a plate cylinder, adapted to receivea plurality of plates in spaced relation to each other co-operating gears upon said impression cylinder or D -roll and upon said plate cylinder, said gears permitting slight variation in the angular speed of said impression cylinder orD-roll during the making of an impression, and co-operating means carried by said impression cylinder or D-roll and by said plate .cylinder, whereby the impression cylinder or Dro'll is brought into a definite relation to the plate cylinder upon the completion of the making of each impression and immediatelyprior to the initiation of the 7 making of the succeeding impression; and in such other novel features of construction and combination of parts as are hereinafter set forth and described, and more particularly pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

' Referring to the drawing,

. Fig. 1 is an end view of a printing couple In the embodiment of the invention shown Y in the drawing, a plate cylinder 10 is shown, which cylinder is adapted to have three engraved, intaglio ,or undersurface steel plates mounted thereon. These platesareindicated at 11, 12 and 13 respectively and are in spaced relation to each other, the gap betw en. su

seeding plates be ng i dicated at 14:, 1 v and 16. y

Associated with the plat cylinder 10t is an impression cylinder or D-roll 17 Of the usual construction having a recessedportion indicated in dotted lines at 18 interrupting he continuity ofth perimeter of this yl inder and receiving the various blanket mounting and adjusting mechanisms.

The plate cylinder 10 's provided with a main gear 19 through which power is applied to the members 10 and 17 of the printing couple. This gear 19 has a sociated there with an impression cylinder or D-roll d iving gear .20, which may be of the floating rack construction, or may have a loosefit with the gear 21 carried by the impression cylinder or D-roll 17. Ordinarily a floating ra k c nstruction is used since such a construction permits a full friction drive of the impression cylinder or Droll 17 during the making of animpression and aiiords an ample range of variation in t e angular speed of said impression cylinder or D-roll to compensate for irregularities in th plate. The same result, however, can be secured, but less perfectly, by a loose mesh between the gears 20 and 2,1. Looseness in the gears'QQ and 21 is not desirable, since this. arrangement sacrifices that accuracy in the operation'of the members of the printing couple which is desirable with high lass work. Looseness, h wever, will develop from wear, whether acontinuous rack or a floating rack structure 20 is employed, and this looseness introduces the problem solved bymy present invention. r 1

Since, during the mak'ng of the impression,

the impression cylinder or- D-roll is frictionally driven, and during such interval-is under the control of a plate, no difficulties arise as a result of backlash or looseness in the gears 20 and 21 during the making ofan impression. It desirable, however, that the same portion of. the makeready of the cylinder 17 be engaged with each plate upon the-plate cylinder upon each revolution of the 25 are adjustably mounted by means of set plate cylinder 10.

screws 28 in slots 29 upon the wheel23'to facilitate accuracy in the location of the studs 26 and 27 with relation to co-operating means carried by the gear of the plate cylinder 10. r i

The diameter of the wheel 23 is greaterthan that of the gear 21, adjacent which'it is positioned, but from which it is spaced in order to position the studs outside of the gear 20. Consequently, the wheel 23 overlays .or laps the gear 20. I r

' Carried by the gear 19 is a ring 30 having secured thereto a plurality ofpairs of socket plates corresponding in number with the engraved steel plates carried bythe plate cylinder 10. One of the plates of each pair is located adjacent the rear end of one plate, and the other plate of each pair is located adjacent the forward edge of the succeeding plate. j

In the drawings, the plates of one pair are indicated at 31 and 32, the plates-of the succeeding pair at .33 and 34 and the plates of the remaining pair at and 36.. The plates 31, 33 and 35 are each located adjacent the rear edge of a printing plate, while the plates 32, 34 and 36 are each located adjacent the forward edge of a printing plate. For convenience of expression, the plates 31, 33 and 35 will be designated stop plates, while the plates 32, 34 and 36 will be designated starting plates. The plates of each'pair are spaced apart the same number ofdegrees in are as the studs 26 and 27.

Each of the plates 31 to 36 is provided with a socket such as 37, adaptedto receive a stud 26 or 27 upon the wheel 23, the mouth of this socket being outwardly flared as shown so as to permit the free engagement and disengagement of the stud with the socket and limit the corrective effect of the co-operating plate and stud to a substantially 1110- I mentary action when the plate is at substantially the top vertical center of the gear,and'

the coeoperating stud is at substantially the bottom vertical center of the wheel 23.

o The various plates 31 to 36 are adjustably mounted by means of the segmental slots 38 and the bolts 39 upon the ring 30.

It will benoted that the studs 26 and 27 are located upon opposite sides of the recess 18, the entire double corrective action occurring while this recess is presented toward the The operation of the herein described device is substantially as follows In the operation of the machine, the gears 19, 20 and 21 have continuous, uni-directional movement, the gear 21, during the making of an impression," being turned as a result of the frictional engagement of the paper web between the makeready of the cylinder 17 and the plates 11, 12 or 13 upon the cylinder 10, either as a result of the loose enmeshment of the gears 20 and 21, or the use of the floating rack'structureherein referred to which forms-no part of thepresent invention. It is merely necessary that the gears 20 and 21 shall be capable of minute variable movement.

7 Assuming thepartsto be "in the position shown inF-ig. 1, the'stud 27 is positioned in the socket '37of the plate '32 ina manner to ensure a certain predetermined position of the makeready of the cylinder 17 with relation to the plate 11. It will be noted that the axis of the stud 27 is in substantial aline-v ment with the teeth of the gear 21, notwithstanding that the diameter of the wheel 23 is greater than that of said gear.

With the continued rotation of'the gears 19, 20 and 21, the'latter being under the 7 control of the wheel 23, the makeready upon the cylinder 17 passes into operative relation with the web and the plate 11, the cylinder 17, the gear 21 and the wheel 23 being frictionally driven asa result of such engagement. As the rear endof-the plate 11 passes out of its en gaging relation with the web, and there through with the makeready of the cylinder 17, the stop plate 33 is brought to the position occupied by the plate 32 in'l ig. land engages the anti-friction roller upon the stud 26 in the same manner as the plate 32 engages the stud 27 When coming to this position there is a free rolling action-of the roller uponthe stud within the socket 37' of the plate 33 with suflicient playto permit a I continued frictional drive of the cylinder 17 until the plate 33 has reached the positiondescribed.

When the plate 33 has reached the position described, however, the friction drive of the cylinder 17 and the rotation of the wheel 23, as a result of such frictional drive, is positively stopped by the platev 33, and any slight ove'rrunning of the cylinder 17 from moving inertia is prevented. 1 V

The gear 21 is thus brought to' a fixed, predetermined position in relation to the gear 20 and receives movement solely from the plate 33 until there has been a proper adjustment of the gears 20 and 21, which adjustment may have been lost as a result of the drive of the gear-21 from the impression cylinder or D-roll 17. This'a'ction, however, is merely momentary, since, with the restoration of gears 20 and 21, there is any departure from i the desired adjustment, this is corrected as a result of the engagement of the stud 27 with the socket 37 ofthe plate St.

Immediately following the plate 34: reaching the position occupied by the plate 32 in Fig. 1, the drive of the impression cylinder .or D-roll 17 is under the control of the plate 34: for a'very short interval, but suflicient to ensure the engagement of the makeready of the cylinder 17 with the plate 12 upon the cylinder 10, whereupon the full friction drive of the cylinder 17 is initiated. i

It will thus be noted that following the making of each impression, the impression cylinder or. D-roll is placed underthe control of a stop plate such as 31, 33 or 35 for a sufficient interval toaccomplish the readjustment of the gears 20 and 21, and that immediately preceding the making of the following impression, said lmpression cylinder or D-roll is placed under the control of a starting plate32, 34 or 36 in a manner to ensure an angular speed of the impression cylinder or D-roll corresponding with the angular speed of a plate upon the plate cylinder 10 for a sufficient interval to ensure a proper initial engagement of the paper he tweena plate and the cylinder 17.

By reason of the construction and arrangement of the studs 26 and 27 and the stop and start plates, substantially no wear such as gear teeth are subjected to occurs upon these cooperating members, so that the machine may be operated for long intervals without possibilty of any substantial loss of adjustment. 1 7

There issufficient clearance between the studs 26 and 27' and the sockets 37 'ofthe plates ofeach pair to permit of the successive operation of the respective plates of each pair, in the'manner abovedescribed, Without interference from the other plate.

Theadjustability of the studs and of the variousstop and start plates is merely for the purpose of securing great ni'cety in the positioning of the stop and start plates with relation to the steel plates upon the cylinder 10, and a proper positioning of the studs in accord with any adjustment ofthe stop and start plates. Ordinarily, plates of the same 7 size areused at the same time upon the cylinder 10 so that adjustment of the stop and start plates,to adapt .the machine to slight variation. in the dimensions of the different plates, is not required, although it is possible.- If adjustment be required, the position of the stop and start plates and the cooperating studs issuch as to permit convenient access thereto.

WVhile the mechanisms herein described were primarily designed for use upon a web printing machine, it is obvious that the same construction may be advantageously used when printing upon separatesheets.

Itis not my intention to limit the invention to the precise details. ofoconstruction and combination of parts shown in the drawing, itbeing apparent that such may be Varied without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to have protected by Letters Patent, is r 1. A rotary web undersurface printing machine embodying therein a printing couple consisting of an impression cylinder or D-roll, a plate cylinder adapted to receive a plurality of plates in spaced relation to each other, co-operating gears upon said impression cylinder or D-roll and upon said plate cylinder, said gears permitting slightvaria tion in the angular speed of said impression cylinder or D -rollduring the making of an impression, and co-operating means carried by said impression cylinder or Dr-roll and'by said plate cylinder, whereby the impression cylinder or D-roll is brought into a definite relation to the plate cylinder upon thecompletion of the making of each impression and immediately prior to the initiation' of the making of the succeeding impression.

2. A rotary web undersurtace printing machine embodying therein a printing con ple consisting of an, impression cylinder or D-roll, a plate cylinder adapted to receive a pluralityoi plates in spaced relation to each other, co-operating gears upon said impression cylinder or D-roll and upon said plate cylinder, said gears permitting slight variation in the angular speed of said impression cylinder or D-roll during the making of an impression, spaced studs upon said impression cylinder or D-roll, and spaced plates upon saidplate cylinder, said plates respectively having a socket adapted to co-operate with one of said studs, the socket of one of said plates being positioned adjacent the rear edge of an engraved plate upon the plate cylinder, and the socket upon the other plate being positioned adjacent the forward edge of the succeeding plate upon said cylinder, whereby the impressioncylinder or D-roll is brought into a definite relation to theplate cylinder upon the completion of the making of each impression and immediately prior to the initiation of the making of the succeeding impression.

3. A rotary web undersurface printing machine embodying therein a printing couple consisting of an impression cylinder or D-roll, a plate cylinder adapted to receive a plurality of plates in spaced relation to each other, co-operating gears upon said impression cylinder or D-roll and upon said plate cylinder, said'gears permitting slight variation in the angular speed of said impression cylinder or D-roll during the making of an impression, spaced studs upon said impression cylinder or D-roll, and spaced plates upon s aid plate cylinder, said plates respectively having a socket adapted'to cooperate with one of said studs, said socket being enlarged at the mouth thereof to ensure only momentary corrective action, the socket of one of said plates being positioned adjacent the rear edge of an engraved plate upon the plate cylinder, and the socket upon the other plate being positioned adjacent the forward edge of the succeeding plate upon said cylinder, whereby the impression cylinder or D-roll is brought into a definite relation to the plate cylinder upon the completion of the making of each impression and immediately prior to the initiation of the making of the succeeding impression.

4. A rotary web undersurface printing machine embodying therein a printing couple consisting of an impression cylinder or D-roll, a plate cylinder adapted to receive a plurality of plates in spaced relation to each other, co-operating gears upon said impression cylinder or D-roll and upon said plate cylinder, said gears permitting slight variation in the angular speed ofsaid impression cylinder or D-roll during the making of an impression, spaced studs mounted for circumferential adjustment upon said impression cylinder or D-roll, and spaced plates mounted for circumferential adjustment upon said plate cylinder, said plates respectively having a socket adapted to cooperate with one of said studs, the socket of one of said plates being positioned adjacent the rear edge of an engraved plate uponthe plate cylinder, and the socket upon the other plate being positioned adjacent the forward edge of the succeeding plate upon said cylinder, whereby the impression cylinder or D- roll is brought into a definite relation to the plate cylinder upon the completion of the making of each impression and immediately prior to the initiation of the making'of' the succeeding impression-- 5. A rotary web undersurface printing machine embodying therein a printing couple consisting of an impression cylinder or D- roll, a plate cvlinder adapted to receive a plurality of plates in spaced relation to each other, co-operating gears upon said imprestioned adjacent the rear edge of an engraved plate upon the plate cylinder, and the socket upon the other plate being positioned adjacent the forward edge of the succeeding plate upon said cylinder, whereby the impression cylinder or D-roll is brought into a definite relation to the plate cylinder upon the completion of the making of each impression and immediately prior to the initiation of the making of the succeeding impression. n

6. A rotary web undersurface printing machine embodying'therein a printing couple consisting of an impression cylinder or D-roll, and spaced socket plates carried by and mounted for circumferential adjustment upon the gear upon the plate cylinder co-opcrating with the gear upon the impression cylinder or D-roll, said plates respectively having a socket adapted to co-operate with one of said studs, the socket of one of said plates being positioned adjacent the rear edge of an engraved plate upon the plate cylinder, and the socket upon the other plate being positioned adjacent the forward edge of the succeeding plate upon said cylinder, whereby'the impression cylinder or D-roll is brought into a definite relation to the plate cylinder'upon the completion of the making of each impression and immediately prior to the initiation of the making of the succeeding impression.

In witness whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature, this 19th day of December,

ALBERT S. WEBSTER.

sion cylinder or D-roll and upon said plate positioned in alinement with the teeth of the gear upon said impression cylinder or D-roll, and spaced socket plates carried by the gear upon the plate cylinder oo-operating with the gear upon the impression cylinder or D- roll, said plates respectively having a socket adapted to co-operate with one of said studs,

the socket of one of said plates being posi-i 

